With their lead singer Brian Johnson sidelined with immediate effect because of his hearing problems, AC/DC are now reportedly considering inviting Guns ‘N’ Roses’ frontman Axl Rose to step in and provide lead vocals when their North American tour resumes.

In a report by Alternative Nation, a radio DJ from Atlanta named Jason Bailey claims that a “very very good source” has told him that the legendary rockers will recruit the controversial Gunners singer Rose for the remainder of their North American tour dates, having flown him to the US city to audition with them.

The Australian rock titans were forced to reschedule ten of their Rock or Bust gigs in North America earlier this month, when doctors told 68 year old frontman Johnson, who has sung with them since the death of Bon Scott in 1980, to stop performing with AC/DC immediately or “risk total hearing loss”.

Bailey, a DJ for Atlanta Radio 100.5, is quoted as saying: “This is what I’m being told, Axl was meeting with the AC/DC group, because it’s all but a done deal that Axl will front AC/DC for the ten remaining shows. All ten, including Atlanta.”

The Guns ‘N’ Roses fansite ‘G’n’R Truth’ claimed that Rose was spotted in the Georgia city earlier this week, lending further credence to the reports. His own band is due to headline the Coachella festival in Indio, California, next month.

“From what I was told, this was all kind of new inside information to me, Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] is a very black and white guy,” Bailey continued. “He’s like, Brian, for health reasons, can’t continue fronting the band. He was supposed to retire after the last tour, so they wanted to continue going out on the road and continue making music, so if you can’t do it, we appreciate your services, but the show must go on.”

“They’re in town, they were auditioning people for the job, and then they flew Axl in, again, this is from my source.”

Other AC/DC gigs scheduled beyond the end of April, including two shows in Manchester and London, are still in place, although it’s not known whether Johnson will be performing or another guest vocalist.